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See similar pages of interest
ABOUT US
Scrapbook of past events
Graduation Classes
Rent our barn
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Once upon a time, In the winter of 1959, four square dance
couples decided to form a club.
These four couples, along with the new owners of a farm in Brookfield, Mass
which included a nice barn, began the long and arduous task of
preparing the upper floor of the barn for square dancing. With practically no money but a lot
of enthusiasm, they finally were ready to open for dancing and the
“Hayloft Steppers” came into being in January of 1960.
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There were no
other members so the club had to be built up through classes.
Nine years passed
and after ownership of the barn passed through three different owners
the club decided it was time to have a home of their own.
The Hayloft
Steppers formed an association and bought a lovely stone cow barn in
nearby Sturbridge
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The snows melted
and as the club grew to 127 members work could begin. The straw-covered cow barn stalls
were knocked out and removed to create what is now the refreshment
area today.
This view would be
from where the entrance to the parking lot is today. The doors in the center have been
replaced but are still in evidence.
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As the club grew to about 140 the members
partitioned for and were granted a variance that allowed to the
Hayloft Steppers to hold social gatherings in the barn
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On May 4, 1969 the ground-breaking ceremony
for an addition took place.
Without wasting any time the bulldozer was put to work the
same day
The original barn was 50 by 34 ft. and after expansion it was 50 by 82
feet and was designed to hold up to 30 sets.
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Just what is a floating floor?
After the cement floor was
laid it was prepared by a three-quarter inch layer of rubber. Then special rubber blocks were
placed in a grid pattern sixteen inches apart. The floor itself was built over
comparatively light-weight joists and covered by a layer of sub
flooring and then the flooring itself. It should be noted that to shave
costs, the flooring came from an abandoned building.
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Much planning, hard work and ingenuity was
required to raise the necessary funds but was well worth it because the
club is unusual in that It would be the only one in the area to own its
own barn. The aim of the
hayloft steppers was to have the new barn ready for their 10th
anniversary celebration in June of 1970.
Here you can see the rocks and debris that
was the rear wall of the barn.
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Initially, the barn construction was
scheduled for three years.
Instead it was built in about seven months just in time for
the January of 1960 anniversary.
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Old Sturbridge Village,
a nationally known historical village, is located nearby. Square dancers vacationing in the
area will receive a warm welcome by the hayloft steppers who are
still known to this day for their hospitality.
Please drop in and dance on our floating
floor if you are in the area.
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